devolve on

devolve (up)on (someone or something)

To become someone else's responsibility, as of a task or job. If Joe is out sick on Monday, I know that sorting the mail will devolve on me. Of course they want us to stuff envelopes—the boring busywork always devolves upon the interns. Now that the head coach has been hospitalized, his duties have devolved on his assistant coaches for the time being.

See also: devolve

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

devolve (up)on someone or something

[for something, such as a task] to be passed on to someone or a group. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) This job, I am afraid, devolves upon you and you alone. The task of repairing the damage devolved on Diane.

See also: devolve, on

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.